Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 22: BJP, which is desirous of rising to power in Karnataka is facing several hurdles, many of which have arisen from within. False prestige and self esteem of some defiant leaders now threaten to spoil the party's dream, many in the party feel. The fact that the enmity between Congress and JD(S) is thawing has been giving sleepless nights to BJP leaders. The very leadership style of Yeddyurappa and his functioning have come under scanner as many have been striking discordant notes on this front.

BJP state president, Yeddyurappa, whose autocratic style of functioning is being blamed to some extent for his own problems, has been compelled to cope with more and more internal enemies than external of late. Some top leaders from the state have decided to sensitize Yeddyurappa to the issue of opposition to him by staying away from a meeting being held on April 23 for reviewing the party's debacle in the recent bypoll in Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly constituencies.

One of the major objections the disgruntled leaders have is for the undesirable intervention by state BJP general secretary, Shobha Karandlaje, in all decisions relating to the party. Some leaders point fingers at Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, Aravind Limbavali and Ravikumar for deciding everything including electoral tactics in the recent bypoll. They say that Yeddyurappa did not show the minimum courtesy of even holding consultation with leaders like Jagadish Shettar, K S Eshwarappa, and union ministers from Karnataka, on bypoll issues. It is said that selection of candidates, electoral strategy, campaigning etc were conducted as per the diktats of these four leaders. Some even have gone to the extent of holding the foursome responsible for the party's defeat in both the constituencies as they failed to take into confidence leaders from all castes and sects.

Several party functionaries have questioned the rationale of Yeddyurappa, who had not consulted anyone till the bypoll concluded, of conducting a meeting to review the party's defeat after the conclusion of bypoll. They point out that Yeddyurappa would have claimed full credit for himself if the party candidates had come out victorious and that convening of a meeting is an attempt to transform this into a joint responsibility. So they plan to stay away from the meeting.

The leaders admit that basically Yeddyurappa's intentions are good but he often listens to the advice of a few office bearers of the party. Because of this, he has been leading the party on a bumpy path, as a result of which veterans, loyal activsts and experienced party workers are distancing themselves from him. As organization is more important than individuals, leaders say they have also kept the central leaders abreast of developments in the state.

As per a decision taken by some BJP leaders who recently met at the residence of former minsister, Sogadu Shivanna, at Tumakuru, a meeting titled 'Save BJP' is being held here on April 27. Disgruntled leaders from various districts may attend the meeting, which may turn the table against Yeddyurappa, some sections in the party feel. It is learnt that hundreds of BJP activists have planned to travel to New Delhi through special train to meet BJP national president, Amit Shah, and other leaders to appraise them of the ground realities in Karnataka. This development may make Yeddyurappa jittery. At the same time, union minster, D V Sadananda Gowda's statement at Madikeri that Eshwarappa's insistence on implementation of terms agreed upon during conciliatory talks within the party cannot be treated as dissident activity, has come as a boost for Eshwarappa.

Yeddyurappa, in the meanwhile, said that Amit Shah will not take part in the state executive of BJP being held at Mysuru in May, but he will come here in August to suggest measures to strengthen the party,he added. Yeddyurappa also said he does not know anything about the April 27 meeting and he is not disturbed by it. He asserted that he has been functioning as per the instructions of party leaders.